Railway alarm-signal



(No Model.) 5 Shets-Sheet 1.

J. R. JONES & J. W. SCOTT.

RAILWAY ALARM SIGNAL.

No. 448,963. 4? Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

(NoM'ode1.) 5Sheets-Sheet 2."

J. R. JONES 8: JQW. SCOTT.

RAILWAY ALARM SIGNAL.

No.-448,963. h Patented a1. 2 4 18%; i?Illllllllllllmllllllllllml)mlilmllllmllimil Y 3 gmfiwfillllllllflflllllllllllfllllIHIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIMI i arr mmnmlmmmmimmj j (No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' J. R. JONES & J. W. SCOTT.

RAILWAY ALARM SIGNAL.

No. 448,963. Patented Mar. 24,1891,

(No Mode 1.) 5.SheetsSheet 4.

J. R. JONES & J. W. SCOTT.

RAILWAY ALARM SIGNAL.

No. 448,963. Patented Mar. 24, 1893 Jga 1 (No Model.) 5 sheet s sheet 5.

J. R. JONES 8v J. W. SCOTT. RAILWAY ALARM SIGNAL.

N 448,963. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN R. JONES AND JOHN W. SCOTT, OF ARLINGTON, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY ALARM-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,963, dated March24, ,1891.

Application filed March 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 344,206. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN R. JONES and JOHN WV. SCOTT, both residing atArlington, Bureau county, Illinois, and citizens of the United States,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway Alarm-Signals, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan. Fig. 2 is across-section at line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4.is a vertical section at line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionat line 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail and is a section of so much asis shown, taken at line 6 of Fig. 3, looking upward. Fig. 7 is a detailshowing one part of a modification. Fig.8 represents a modification andis a vertical longitudinal section of one end of the device, the partsbeing in the position which they occupy when a torpedo is ready to befired. Fig. 9 is an elevation showing a signal-lamp and devices foroperating the same in connection with the alarm-signal devices. Fig. 10is a section at line 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an illustrative diagram.Fig. 12

. is a detail showing a weight which aids in operating the lamp.

All the figures, except 9, 10, 11, and 12, are half-size.

The leading objectof our invention is to provide improved devices forsignaling trains when approaching an open switch or approaching astation when a train is standing there on the track over which theapproaching train is coming, which we accomplish by arranging at asuitable distance from the switch or station a torpedo-holder, devicesto bring a torpedo into position to be fired, firing devices arranged tobe operated by a wheel of the locomotive of a passing train, and byproviding devices by which the switch-tender or an officer at the depotcan bring these torpedoes into proper position for use.

Other objects of our invention are to provide a signal-light operated atthe same time that the torpedo devices are brought into proper positionfor use, and electric devices for automatically communicating from thetorpedo devices to the depot. All of which we accomplish, as illustratedin the drawings and as hereinafter described That which we claim as newwill be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A is a box, which may be made of any suitable material,which box is provided with a holder or chamber B, adapted to receive anumber of torpedoes O.

D is a sliding block supported in grooves on the inside of the sidewalls of the box A. The forward end of this block is partly cut away andthe remaining surface 6 is inclined.

E is a metal rod, one end of which extends some distance into thechamber in the block D, to which it is secured by means of a pin Ct.

12 is a coiled spring located in said chamber in the block D, whichspring surrounds the rod E, the tendency of which spring when compressed being to force the block D forward.

0 are two cross-bars.

d is a plate beneath the chamber which receives the torpedoes. Thisplate is provided with two slots, one of which f is short and the other9 is long.

it is a pin or screw secured in the block D and passing through the slotgin the plated.

'i is a hinged piece arranged, as shown, for

the purpose of preventing the torpedo from passing over the forward endof the block D until the point j at the forward end of the upper portionof said block comes in contact with such hinged piece, lifting it to theposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. at and full lines in Fig.8, whichwill take place when the block D has moved forward to a position similarto that shown in Fig. 8. The hinged piece 1' also pushes the shell of anexploded torpedo from the block D upon the return movement of said blockD.

F G are toggle-levers arranged on opposite sides of the box, the lowerend of one lever being pivoted to the box and the lower end of the otherlever being secured by means of a pin k to an ear Z, which is secured tothe under side of the block D. The pins it pass through slots m in theside walls of the box.

H are arms, one of which is connected with each of the levers F.

I is a sliding bar on the rod E.

J are rods which connect the arms H with the sliding bar I.

n is a loop connected with the bar I.

K is a firing-lever pivoted in suitable bear.- ings on one side of thebox A, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. This lever is provided witha pin 0, which is arranged to come in contact with one end of a torpedowhen in position to be fired, which is when the torpedo is at p, Fig. &,where it will be held by the block D against a fixed part 10 of the box.A torpedo is shown in the same position in Fig. 8; but in this figurethe lever to fire the torpedo is arranged at the end of the box, as willmore fully appear when this modification is described. On the outer endof this firinglever there is a shoe g, which is arranged in closeproximity to one of the rails of the track. hen this lever is in theposition shown in Fig 5, the shoe q will be on a line with the top ofthe rail, and the wheel of the locomotive as it passes will not touchsuch shoe; but if the free end of the leverbe elevated alittle andbrought into a position such as is shown in Fig. 8, whether the lever ison the side or at the end of the box, then when the locomotive passesits driving-wheel, being broad,will pass over such shoe. 7' is the heelof this lever.

L is a spring, which carries a projecting piece 8 near its free end,which piece 3 is arranged to come in contact with the heel r of thelever K when the block D is pushed forward, and the action of the springwill force the free end of the lever up in position to be acted upon bya locomotive wheel. This spring is secured to a small block, which issecured to the under side of the block D. (See Figs. 4 and 6.)

In Fig. 11 we have shown bya diagram one way of arranging two torpedodevices so that one of them may be brought into proper position foraction by the operation of a switch and the other by an operator at thedepot.

, In this figure M represents a switch; N, one

of our torpedo-boxes and other devices connected therewith; 0, anotherof such boxes and devices; P, a chain, one end of which is attached tothe loop a of the device 0, which chain passes over suitable pulleys toa switchbar Q, which is operated by aswitch-lever, as usual. R is achain attached to the loop 12, of the device N, which chain passes oversuitable pulleys to a lever arranged in the oifice of thetelegraph-operator or at other suitable place in the depot. In thisdiagram the chain P is represented as passing over a half-pulley 25; butthe operation would be the same if at this point there was an ordinarypulley like the others which are shown.

S is a signal-lamp mounted on a shaft supported in bearings at its lowerend and carrying a pinion a, which engages with a second pinion b, withwhich pinion the half-pulleyt is connected. One end of a chain c issecured at d to this half-pulley, which chain 0 passes under and overproper pulleys, as shown in Fig. 12, and carries at its other end aweight V, the two pulleys and the weight being inclosed in a case T.

6 (see Fig. 11) is another chain, one end of which is connected with thechain R at f. This chain c passes into the case T, and there is providedwith a weight similar to the weight connected with the chain 0, suitablepulleys being provided for the chain c.

g (see Fig. 4) is a binding-post.

h 1" (see Fig. 6) are two other binding-posts.

j is an electric wire which runs to the depot.

It is a wire which connects the bindingpost t" and the wire j.

Z is a wire which runs from the bindingpost g to the depot.

m is a wire which connects the bindingpost g and the spring L.

WVhen the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, they arein the safety position, and the lever K so depressed at its free endthat the shoe q will not be touched by a passing locomotive.

The switch-tender can at any time bring the devices into the positionshown in said three figures by placing the switch and switchlever in theposition shown in Fig. 11, and through the chain P the rod E will bedrawn out and with it the block D will be brought to the position shownin Fig. 4., and the parts will remain in that position until theswitchlever is released. The operator at the depot can bring the partsof the other box (represented at N in Fig. 11) into similar position bymeans of a suitable lever, not shown in in the drawings.

It now the switch-tender desires to have a torpedo in the box 0 explodedwhen a train passes such box, he must move the switchlcver over to theother side of the switchframe, which will relax the chain P, and theaction of the spring 12 will force the block D forward in the box A andthe torpedo (shown in Fig. 4E) resting on the incline c which torpedohas been brought intoplaceby a formeractioi'i, being held by the hingedpiece 2', will remain in that position While the forward end of theblock D passes under it, and when the point j on the block D comes incontact with the hinged piece 2' such piece will be lifted up and thetorpedo on theincline will be brought to the position shown in Fig. 8and be held firmly there in position to be fired. At the same time theaction of the spring L and projection 8 on the heel r of the lever willelevate its free end. Now when a locomotive passes on the track one ofits driving-wheels, coming in contact with the shoe q, will force thelever K down, bring the firing-pin 0 into contact with the end of thetorpedo, and it will be exploded. \Vhen the block D moves forward, asalready described, the pin it moves in the slot g in the plate d untilit reaches the end of such slot g, and then the plate (Z is movedforward a little, bringing the slot f beneath the lower end of thetorpedo-chamber B, when a torpedo will fall through the slot f onto thetop of the block D. \Vhen the block D is returned to the position shownin Fig. 4, this last mentioned torpedo will fall onto the incline e androll down thereon until its movement is arrested by the hinged piece z'.When the block D has been carried forward by the action of the spring b,the toggles F G will be in a horizontal position, and they will remainin that position, until the rod E is again drawn out. The devicesconnected with the other box can be operated by the telegraph-operatoror other person at the depot in substantially the same manner asdescribed for the operation of the box 0. The weights connected with thechains 0' e are designed to aid the action of the springs in the boxeson the chains P and R. Then the block D has been carried forward to itsextreme limit, the free end of the spring L will come in contact withthe binding-post i, and a bell being provided at the depot. and placedin the circuit a signal will be there given. So whenever the block D isbrought to the position shown in Fig. 4 the spring L will come incontact with the post h, completing the circuit and giving the signal atthe depot, as before. Thus if any person tampers with the switch or withthe devices connected with either of the torpedo-boxes, so as to bringthe block D into the position shown in Fig. 8, or that shown in Fig. 4:,the signal will be given at the depot. The signallight S will be movedthrough the chain P whenever the switch tender operates the switch. Thechain P, passing over the halfpulley i, will cause the pinion b to move,and it being in engagement with the pinion a a partial rotation will begiven to the shaft which carries the light.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification, the firing-lever being arrangedat the end of the box instead of at the side, and the firing-pin beingarranged to come in contact with the side of the torpedo instead of itsend, a diiferent spring also being provided to throw the lever K intothe position shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 7 also represents a part of thismodification. In these figures n is the firing-pin, 0 a pin operated bya spring 19 to raise the lever K. The pin 0 is supported in bearings rin pieces (1, secu red to the under side of the block D, and pins 7c areconnected with blocks which are also secured to the under side of theblock D, substantially as before described. \Vhen this modification isused, wires for signaling from the box to the depot are used,substantially as before described, although the arrangement of theconnecting parts is not exactly the same, but will be sufficientlyunderstood without particular description,it being sufficient to saythat t represents two springs, which are arranged to be brought intocontact with one of the binding-posts by the movement of one of theblocks 1'' over such springs.

Beneath the box A there is a chamber U, into which the shells of thetorpedoes can fall, through an opening a in the bottom of the box A,when the block D is drawn back.

The chamber 13 can be filled with torpedoes daily, or asoften asoccasion requires.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

1. A box provided with a chamber for torpedoes, in combination with asliding block partly cut away at its forward end and adapted to supporta cylindrical torpedo, a rod E, connected with such block, a spring I),pressing said block forward, a fixed block w, adapted to engage acylindrical torpedo, and a lever provided with a pin adapted to fire atorpedo held by the sliding block and fixed block, substantially asspecified.

2. A box A, havinga chamber for torpedoes, in combination with a slidingblock partly cut away at its forward end, a rod E, fixed block to, astop, as c', to hold a torpedo at the forward end of the sliding block,and a lever for firing a torpedo, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

3. A box provided with a chamber for torpedoes, in combination with asliding block D, a rod E, spring b, sliding slotted plate cl, screw orpin h, fixed block 20', stop i, togglelevers F G, arms H, connectionsbetween the arms H and rods E, and a lever for firing a torpedo,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4:. A box having a chamber for torpedoes, in combination with a slidingblock, a sliding plate d, a firing-lever K, and a spring to act on theheelof such lever, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. A box having a chamber for torpedoes, incombination with a slidingblock D, a sliding plate d, rod E, spring b,toggle-levers F G, arms I-I,connections between the arms and rod E, firing-lever K, and a connectionfrom the rod E to a switch, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

6. The combination, with a sliding block D, a firing-lever, and a springto act on the heel of such lever, of a rod E, a chain connecting the rodE and a switch, and a spring I), whereby the sliding block is moved intofiring position, and the firing-lever is raised, substantially asspecified.

7. A box having a chamber for torpedoes and provided with slots m, incombination with a sliding block, toggle-levers F G, one F pivotedat oneend to the box and the other G' sliding block D, a firing-lever,connections from the block D to a switch, in combination withbinding-posts connected with said box, electric wires running from thebox to depot, and one or more contact-pieces connected with the slidingblock D, substantially as and for the purposes specified. Y

JOHN R. JONES. JOHN W. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

' EDWIN HAMLIN,

CHARLES RIALE.

ITO

